Great Game: America's Primacy and Its Geopolitical Strategy

Author: Zbigniew Brzezinski
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: At the end of 1997, I had the opportunity to visit the United States and meet with Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, the former National Security Advisor to U.S. President. I informed him that my colleagues at the China Institute of International Studies had translated his new book "The Grand Chessboard" into Chinese and that it would be published by the Shanghai People's Publishing House. He was very pleased and expressed his sincere greetings to the Chinese readers. Dr. Brzezinski repeatedly emphasized the significant importance of developing U.S.-China relations for world peace and stability. Currently, various political factions within the United States have differing views on the future prospects of U.S.-China relations. The Clinton administration, facing domestic pressure, found it difficult to formulate a long-term and comprehensive policy toward China. However, most U.S. decision-makers recognize China as a rising great power, oppose containment of China, and advocate for an active and constructive engagement policy to develop relations with China. In his book "The Grand Chessboard," Dr. Brzezinski argues that the United States, as the world's only superpower, holds military superiority globally, is the primary driver of global economic growth, leads in cutting-edge technology, and has an attractive "American culture." However, the United States is not only the only superpower but also the last one. He predicts that around 2015, the United States will lose its global hegemonic status. In the meantime, to prepare for the worst, the U.S. must take early measures to establish an international order that aligns with its interests. To achieve this, the United States must prevent the rise of another superpower and the emergence of any anti-U.S. alliance that threatens its hegemonic position. Dr. Brzezinski's global strategic vision regards Eurasia as a key region. He lists five geopolitical pivot states and five geoeconomic strategic states in Eurasia, analyzing and judging their positions, development prospects, policy directions, and interests in relation to the United States. He also offers policy recommendations for the U.S. toward them, with a significant portion of the book dedicated to China. Regarding Dr. Brzezinski's various perspectives, I believe that Chinese readers will form their own judgments after reading this book.